A vintage wallpaper mural. Swanky pendant lights in the two-story living room. An original Geneva kitchen with vintage Sub-Zero refrigerator. This wonderful 1960 time capsule house for sale in Laramie, Wyoming was custom designed for the original owners — who have been in the house this entire time — and the TLC shows. Thanks to reader Betsy for spotting this gem. 26 more photos!
While the house looks unassuming from the exterior, once you step inside, you are sure to be wowed by the architectural details and interior design. One of the first things that you’ll notice is the fabulous, huge maritime-themed wall mural, above. (Did you know that Thibaut still makes four authentic wallpaper murals like this available today?) Positioned on a prominent wall that overlooks the main living space of the house, this colorful mural is framed by warm wood paneling and decorative railings. Thanks to listing agent Karla Spiegelberg for giving us permission to use her photos here on the blog.
From the listing:
- Price: $379,900
- Year built: 1960
- Square footage: 3,210
Description: WELL BUILT home that features 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, office with custom shelving and fireplace, living room has vaulted ceilings and fireplace, huge windows, sliding doors to spectacular back yard with built-in grill, eat-in kitchen, lower level family room with wet bar, fireplace and indoor grill. Huge laundry room with newer washer and dryer plus an attached double car garage.
THIS HOME WAS CUSTOM BUILT AND HAD ONE OWNER. The main level living room has vaulted ceilings with floor to ceiling windows, fireplace, nice dining area with glass doors leading to patio area that is very private and features a built-in barbecue grill and numerous planters. There is also a office on the main level with built-in custom shelving and a fireplace. The kitchen has a nice eat-in area with 2 large windows, Sub-Zero refrigerator, Jen-Air grill and custom built-ins. There is also a 1/2 bath on the main level along with a large laundry room with doors leading to the side yard. The upper level master suite has it’s own dressing room, double closets and a full bath. There are also 2 more bedrooms and another full bath on this level. The lower level boasts a large family room with wet bar and fridge, fireplace, built-in grill, plus another bedroom and 3/4 bath. The care taken in this home will be evident when you come take a tour.
1960 interior design features: Glamorous
There are quite a few exciting original details going on in this living room besides the wall mural — the amazing pendant light fixtures, the decorative iron railings, and exposed wood ceiling beams. The floor to ceiling brick fireplace heightens the drama of the room. Look at that huge wall of windows — complete with an amazing custom window treatment that follows the slope of the ceiling. Notice also how the brick of the fireplace continues under the walkway to form a built-in planter area.
The original details continue into the kitchen, where there is a Sub-Zero refrigerator with wood (laminate?) panel inserts, a copper range hood, soffits wallpapered with original patchwork patterned wallpaper, and pink laminate counter tops. Hey, we have a vintage advertisement for Sub-Zero with a fridge that looks just like this 1960 design. You can still get Sub-Zeros that look just like this — Pam put one in her kitchen, although it is a side-by-side and she put “appliance white” metal panels on it – available from Sub-Zero.
Photos of original time capsule homes like this can be full of unique ideas for people doing a Retro Renovation today. Above, notice the way the laminate counter top “zig zags” down from the counter top to the built-in desk area — a great custom detail to consider for your own kitchen remodel, perhaps?
The laundry room doubles as a work space — with plenty of counter space for folding laundry or working on a project. I like the peg board lined wall where tools could be arranged, as well as the extra storage space below the cabinets. Notice the cabinet built into the wall — perfect for storing cleaning supplies.
This pink and aqua bathroom may be my favorite part of the house. Pink and aqua is such a great retro color combination. The aqua sink design is a variation we see now and then — it is hudee-rimmed into the laminate countertop, with the front edge protruding. The owner even took the time to make a fabric curtain for the window in the shower — too cute. Indeed: This home appears to have been impeccably maintained.
Here’s another great original bathroom — in pink, white and brown — with a hidden surprise. When the shower curtain is closed, the bathroom looks pretty tame — but once it is open, it exposes a neopolitan ice cream tile arrangement. In any other color scheme, this might feel like too much — but since pink, white and brown all read as neutrals and only the shower wall is striped and normally behind a curtain — it doesn’t overpower the space.
Get a load of this built-in dressing room vanity — complete with flip up mirror, storage drawers and a baseboard heat source — perfect to ensure the lady of the house’s boudoir slippered toes don’t get a chill. Remember Mara’s dressing room? Here’s another example of a boudoir chair design for her.
The wood paneled office has plenty of custom shelving to hold all your books and knick-knacks. Pam wanted me to point out that the light fixture is a “modern wagon wheel light” — in this design, there is no actual wagon wheel, but the shape of the glass light covers and overall fixture shape evoke that old design, just with a modern twist. A good fit for a mid mod home on the suburban range in Laramie, Wyoming, don’t you think!
Last but certainly not least is this basement rec room and bar. The back wall shelving unit has been painted a bright and cheery deep pink and the mirror behind the bar has been treated like a window in a retro kitchen would be — by adding a decorative trim piece along the top. The bar itself has stone that matches the upstairs fireplace hearth with an added special touch — three glass block like squares with different color lights shining through. Fantastic!!!!
On the opposite side of the rec room, the wall has been painted with a coordinating checker board motif — which mirrors the bar lights — and yet another brick fireplace — complete with a built-in grill.
Mega thanks again to listing agent Karla Spiegelberg for giving us permission to use her photos and listing information.
For more information, or if you are interested in buying this house, contact:
- Karla Spiegelberg at Laramie Land Company — (307) 721-3039 or email her at karlas@wyo2u.com
- Listing information is here
To see all the photos from this listing, check our our slide show:
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image: